Chrysanthemum plant named Miramar

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Miramar particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; spoon daisy capitulum type; yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of up to 14 cm at maturity when grown as a pinched disbudded pot mum; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a pinched pot mum; recommended both as disbud and spray pot mum; and semi-upright branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Miramar.

Miramar, identified as 84-670003, was originated from a cross made byCornelis P. VandenBerg in a controlled breeding program in Salinas,Calif., in 1984.

The female parent of Miramar was the cultivar identified as Pico,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,772. The male parent of Miramar wasan unnamed seedling identified as 82-366013.

Miramar was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in April of 1985,in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Miramar was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in June, 1985in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians workingunder formulations established and supervised by Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Miramar are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Miramar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Canada, under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialgreenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Miramar, which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Spoon daisy capitulum type.

3. Yellow ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum up to 14 cm at maturity, when grownas a pinched disbudded pot mum.

5. Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

6. Medium plant height, requiring 0 to 7 long days after pinch prior toshort days and 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP to attain a floweredplant height of 25 to 35 cm for year-round flowerings when grown as apinched pot mum in a 15 cm pot.

7. Recommended both as disbud and spray pot mum.

8. Branching pattern is semi-upright.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Miramar, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Miramar grown as a pinched disbuddedpot mum grown in a 15 cm pot.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Miramar.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Miramar at three stages of development (mature,intermediate and immature).

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Miramar is the female parent Pico. Reference is made toattached Chart A, which compares certain characteristics of Miramar tothe same characteristics of Pico.

Similar traits are capitulum form and type, plant height andrecommendation for both disbud and spray pot mum. The color of rayflorets of Miramar is a darker yellow (RHS 9A) than that of Pico (RHS3A). Miramar has a more upright branching pattern, a slightly largerflower diameter and a slower flowering response than Pico. Under certainconditions Pico exhibits some bracts in the center of the corolla ofdisc florets. Miramar does not exhibit this trait.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum grown in a 15 cm pot inSalinas, Calif. on June 7, 1989.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Miramar.

Commercial.--Spoon daisy disbud and spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Spoon daisy.

Diameter across face.--Up to 14 cm at maturity.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Yellow.

Color (upper surface).--9A to 9B.

Color (under surface).--9B.

Shape.--Base tubular. Distal portion open, flattened and spoon-like.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--2A.

Color (immature).--144B to 144C.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; moderate pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Medium; 25 to 35 cm as a pinched spray pot mum with 0 to 7 longdays after pinch prior to short days and 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9SP.

Branching pattern.--Semi-upright.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--137A to 147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed and slightly serrated. Foliage closest to theinflorescence has a tendency to twist and bend.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF MIRAMAR AND PICO                                                CHARACTERISTIC MIRAMAR      PICO                                              ______________________________________                                        Ray Floret Color                                                                             Yellow       Yellow                                            Capitulum Form and Type                                                                      Flat         Flat                                                             Spoon daisy  Spoon daisy                                       Branching Pattern                                                                            Semi-upright Spreading                                                                     and prolific                                      Diameter Across Face                                                                         Up to 14 cm  Up to 13 cm                                       of Capitulum                                                                  Plant Height   Medium       Medium                                            Flowering Response                                                                           9 weeks      8 weeks                                           Period                                                                        Recommended Use                                                                              Disbud and spray                                                                           Disbud and spray                                  ______________________________________                                        Comparisons Made of Plants Grown                                              As Pinched Spray Pot Mums                                                     In Salinas, California                                                        ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Miramar, asdescribed and illustrated.